throughout the internet, i can’t seem to find the Shinto rituals concerning Sumo. What are the rituals all about? Why do they need to do these rituals? What objects are use in these Shinto rituals?
Please help!
Tags: Relation, Rituals, Shinto, Sumo, What, Wrestling
Shinto is just a Religion. At one point Religion and politics where one and had to be included in every single aspect of life in Japan. Not just in Japan but in most of the world but different religion in different regions of course. From what I read Shinto has no real founders or scriptures to guide so pretty much most of it is made up as time goes along. Some say that it derived from Buddism. In one article that I read it said that it was so simple in its belief that you can practice Shinto, Buddism and Confusionizm all at the same time. They do have a scattered body of priest with no head figure. It seems that the ritual is simply a asking of thier Gods to grant success without injury for both parties. Both wrestlers do it to show well wishing and respect for each other. If one was to refuse it would mean that he doesn’t wish well for the other. But this may not be true because Shintoism is more about purity of mind and body so it could be simply to clear the Sumos head before a fight and over time became part of the event. I like the former idea better. There are no objects use to represent Shinoism just simply belief and inner peace. There only real body of literature consist of text of the ancients. Most of it Mythology. Sort of like Greek Mythology but from a Japanese perspective. Like in one part I read about one of their Gods I believe washed His eye and the Sun Goddess appeared. Really it said that. Adding it to Sumo Wrestling can simply just be the belief of the Sumoes at one time they had a Shinto king and Shintoism dominated the area so. Thats the best I can do